Durga Saptashati Chapter 7: Chanda-Munda Vadha

Durga Saptashati Chapter 7, known as Saptama Adhyaya or Chanda-Munda Vadha – "The Slaying of Chanda and Munda" – is the chapter in which Kali is born. It belongs to the Uttama Charitra of the Devi Mahatmya, presided over by Mahasaraswati, and it ends with the Goddess giving Kali the name by which she is worshipped to this day: Chamunda.

Chanda and Munda march on the Goddess with a four-fold army to seize her. As they close in, Ambika's face turns dark as kohl with anger, and from her furrowed forehead springs Kali – gaunt, gaping-mouthed, armed with sword, noose and skull-topped staff, wearing a garland of heads and a leopard skin. Kali devours the army, elephants and chariots and all, catches the demons' weapons in her mouth, beheads Chanda, cuts down Munda, and brings their heads to Chandika with a roar of laughter. "Because you came to me with Chanda and Munda," says Chandika, "you shall be known in the world as Chamunda."

The chapter contains 27 textual units, traditionally counted as 2 uvacha lines and 25 full verses. Every one of them is given below in Sanskrit, with transliteration and a simple English meaning.

Durga Saptashati Chapter 7 at a Glance

Particular	Details
Chapter	Saptama Adhyaya (Seventh Chapter)
Traditional Name	Chanda-Munda Vadha – The Slaying of Chanda and Munda
Charitra	Uttama Charitra – Chapters 5 to 13
Presiding Deity	Mahasaraswati
Rishi · Metre · Shakti · Bija · Tattva · Veda	Rudra · Anushtup · Bhima · Bhramari · Surya · Samaveda – from the Viniyoga of the Uttama Charitra, recited at Chapter 5; Chapter 7 has no separate Viniyoga
Dhyana	Matangi – dark-limbed, seated on a jewelled throne, playing the veena
Main Theme	The birth of Kali from the Goddess's forehead, the destruction of the asura army, the slaying of Chanda and Munda, and the naming of Chamunda
Narrator	Sage Medha ("Rishir Uvacha"), within Sage Markandeya's narration
Principal Figures	Chanda and Munda, their four-fold army, the Goddess as Ambika and Chandika, Kali (Chamunda), the lion
Traditional Count	27 textual units (439 from the beginning of the text)
Source	Markandeya Purana – Devi Mahatmya
Navratri	Read on its own on Day 4 in the nine-day schedule

Story of Durga Saptashati Chapter 7

On Shumbha's orders, Chanda and Munda set out at the head of a four-fold army of chariots, elephants, horses and foot soldiers, weapons raised. They find the Goddess faintly smiling, seated on her lion on a great golden peak of the Himalaya, and move to seize her – bows drawn, swords lifted, closing in from every side.

Ambika's anger rises. Her face turns black as kohl, and from her forehead, furrowed with a frown, springs Kali – terrible of face, with sword and noose in her hands, a strange skull-topped staff, a garland of human heads, a leopard skin, a gaunt and fleshless body, a gaping mouth, a lolling tongue, sunken red eyes, and a roar that fills the directions.

Kali falls on the army and devours it. With one hand she seizes elephants – mahouts, warriors, bells and all – and flings them into her mouth; chariots with their charioteers and warriors with their horses go the same way, chewed with her teeth. She seizes demons by the hair and the neck, crushes them under her foot and against her chest, and catches the weapons they hurl in her mouth and grinds them to pieces. In a moment the army is gone.

Chanda rushes at her under a storm of arrows, and Munda hurls discuses by the thousands; the discuses vanish into her mouth like suns into a dark cloud. Kali laughs in fury, rises on her lion, seizes Chanda by the hair and cuts off his head, then strikes Munda to the ground with her sword. What is left of the army flees.

Kali carries the two heads to Chandika with a great burst of laughter: "In this sacrifice of battle I have brought you Chanda and Munda as two great sacrificial beasts; Shumbha and Nishumbha you shall slay yourself." Chandika answers graciously: "Because you came to me with Chanda and Munda, you shall be known in the world as Chamunda."

Who Appears in Chapter 7?

Figure	Role in the Chapter
Sage Medha	Narrates the chapter to King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi
Chanda and Munda	Shumbha's great asuras, sent with a four-fold army to seize the Goddess; both slain by Kali
The Goddess (Ambika, Chandika)	Her anger brings forth Kali; she names Kali Chamunda at the end
Kali (Chamunda)	Born from the Goddess's forehead; destroys the army and slays Chanda and Munda
The lion	The Goddess's mount, on which Kali rises to attack Chanda
Shumbha and Nishumbha	Named by Kali as the enemies Chandika herself will slay

Structure of Chapter 7

The chapter can be understood in five parts:

1. Chanda and Munda march on the Goddess – Verses 1–4
2. The birth of Kali – Verses 5–8
3. Kali devours the asura army – Verses 9–15
4. The slaying of Chanda and Munda – Verses 16–22
5. Kali is named Chamunda – Verses 23–27

Durga Saptashati Chapter 7 Sanskrit with Meaning

॥ श्रीदुर्गासप्तशती – सप्तमोऽध्यायः ॥

Dhyana

ॐ ध्यायेयं रत्नपीठे शुककलपठितं शृण्वतीं श्यामलाङ्गीं न्यस्तैकाङ्घ्रिं सरोजे शशिशकलधरां वल्लकीं वादयन्तीम्।

कह्लाराबद्धमालां नियमितविलसच्चोलिकां रक्तवस्त्रां मातङ्गीं शङ्खपात्रां मधुरमधुमदां चित्रकोद्भासिभालाम्॥

Om Dhyayeyam Ratnapithe Shuka-Kala-Pathitam Shrinvatim Shyamalangim Nyastaikanghrim Saroje Shashi-Shakala-Dharam Vallakim Vadayantim |

Kahlara-Baddha-Malam Niyamita-Vilasach-Cholikam Raktavastram Matangim Shankha-Patram Madhura-Madhu-Madam Chitrakodbhasi-Bhalam ||

Meaning: I meditate on Matangi – dark-limbed, seated on a jewelled throne, listening to the sweet speech of a parrot; one foot resting on a lotus, the crescent moon on her head, playing the veena; wearing a garland of white lotuses, a close-fitting shining bodice and red garments; holding a conch-shell cup, sweetly flushed with wine, her forehead bright with a tilaka.

Verse 1 – Rishir Uvacha

"ॐ" ऋषिरुवाच॥१॥

"Om" Rishir Uvacha || 1 ||

Meaning: With "Om", the sage Medha said:

Verse 2

आज्ञप्तास्ते ततो दैत्याश्चण्डमुण्डपुरोगमाः। चतुरङ्गबलोपेता ययुरभ्युद्यतायुधाः॥२॥

Ajnaptaste Tato Daityash Chanda-Munda-Purogamah | Chaturanga-Balopeta Yayur Abhyudyatayudhah || 2 ||

Meaning: "Ordered by Shumbha, the demons marched out with Chanda and Munda at their head and their four-fold army behind them, weapons raised."

Verse 3

ददृशुस्ते ततो देवीमीषद्धासां व्यवस्थिताम्। सिंहस्योपरि शैलेन्द्रशृङ्गे महति काञ्चने॥३॥

Dadrishuste Tato Devim Ishaddhasam Vyavasthitam | Simhasyopari Shailendra-Shringe Mahati Kanchane || 3 ||

Meaning: "They saw the Goddess, faintly smiling, seated on her lion on a great golden peak of the lord of mountains."

Verse 4

ते दृष्ट्वा तां समादातुमुद्यमं चक्रुरुद्यताः। आकृष्टचापासिधरास्तथान्ये तत्समीपगाः॥४॥

Te Drishtva Tam Samadatum Udyamam Chakrur Udyatah | Akrishta-Chapasi-Dharas Tathanye Tatsamipagah || 4 ||

Meaning: "Seeing her, they made ready to seize her – some with bows drawn, some with swords raised, and others closing in around her."

Verse 5

ततः कोपं चकारोच्चैरम्बिका तानरीन् प्रति। कोपेन चास्या वदनं मषीवर्णमभूत्तदा॥५॥

Tatah Kopam Chakarochchair Ambika Tanarin Prati | Kopena Chasya Vadanam Mashi-Varnam Abhut Tada || 5 ||

Meaning: "Then Ambika's anger rose high against those enemies, and in her anger her face turned black as kohl."

Verse 6

भ्रुकुटीकुटिलात्तस्या ललाटफलकाद्द्रुतम्। काली करालवदना विनिष्क्रान्तासिपाशिनी॥६॥

Bhrukuti-Kutilat Tasya Lalata-Phalakad Drutam | Kali Karalavadana Vinishkrantasi-Pashini || 6 ||

Meaning: "From the surface of her forehead, furrowed with a frown, there sprang forth at once Kali – terrible of face, armed with sword and noose."

Verse 7

विचित्रखट्वाङ्गधरा नरमालाविभूषणा। द्वीपिचर्मपरीधाना शुष्कमांसातिभैरवा॥७॥

Vichitra-Khatvanga-Dhara Naramala-Vibhushana | Dvipicharma-Paridhana Shushka-Mamsati-Bhairava || 7 ||

Meaning: "She carried a strange skull-topped staff, wore a garland of human heads, was clothed in a leopard skin, and was dreadful in her gaunt, fleshless body."

Verse 8

अतिविस्तारवदना जिह्वाललनभीषणा। निमग्नारक्तनयना नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा॥८॥

Ativistara-Vadana Jihva-Lalana-Bhishana | Nimagna-Rakta-Nayana Nada-Purita-Dinmukha || 8 ||

Meaning: "Her mouth gaped wide, her lolling tongue was frightful, her red eyes were sunken, and her roar filled every direction."

Verse 9

सा वेगेनाभिपतिता घातयन्ती महासुरान्। सैन्ये तत्र सुरारीणामभक्षयत तद्बलम्॥९॥

Sa Vegenabhipatita Ghatayanti Mahasuran | Sainye Tatra Surarinam Abhakshayata Tadbalam || 9 ||

Meaning: "Rushing in at speed and slaughtering the great asuras, she devoured that army of the enemies of the gods."

Verse 10

पार्ष्णिग्राहाङ्कुशग्राहियोधघण्टासमन्वितान्। समादायैकहस्तेन मुखे चिक्षेप वारणान्॥१०॥

Parshnigrahankusha-Grahi-Yodha-Ghanta-Samanvitan | Samadayaika-Hastena Mukhe Chikshepa Varanan || 10 ||

Meaning: "With one hand she seized the elephants – with their rear-guards, their goad-bearing mahouts, their warriors and their bells – and flung them into her mouth."

Verse 11

तथैव योधं तुरगै रथं सारथिना सह। निक्षिप्य वक्त्रे दशनैश्चर्वयन्त्यतिभैरवम्॥११॥

Tathaiva Yodham Turagai Ratham Sarathina Saha | Nikshipya Vaktre Dashanaish Charvayanty Atibhairavam || 11 ||

Meaning: "So too she flung warriors with their horses, and chariots with their charioteers, into her mouth, and chewed them most terribly with her teeth."

Verse 12

एकं जग्राह केशेषु ग्रीवायामथ चापरम्। पादेनाक्रम्य चैवान्यमुरसान्यमपोथयत्॥१२॥

Ekam Jagraha Kesheshu Grivayamatha Chaparam | Padenakramya Chaivanyam Urasanyam Apothayat || 12 ||

Meaning: "One she seized by the hair, another by the neck; one she crushed under her foot, and another against her chest."

Verse 13

तैर्मुक्तानि च शस्त्राणि महास्त्राणि तथासुरैः। मुखेन जग्राह रुषा दशनैर्मथितान्यपि॥१३॥

Tairmuktani Cha Shastrani Mahastrani Tathasuraih | Mukhena Jagraha Rusha Dashanair Mathitany Api || 13 ||

Meaning: "The weapons and great missiles the asuras hurled at her she caught in her mouth in fury, and ground them with her teeth."

Verse 14

बलिनां तद् बलं सर्वमसुराणां दुरात्मनाम्। ममर्दाभक्षयच्चान्यानन्यांश्चाताडयत्तथा॥१४॥

Balinam Tad Balam Sarvam Asuranam Duratmanam | Mamardabhakshayach Chanyan Anyamsh Chatadayat Tatha || 14 ||

Meaning: "That whole army of mighty, evil-hearted asuras she crushed – devouring some, and striking others down."

Verse 15

असिना निहताः केचित्केचित्खट्वाङ्गताडिताः।

जग्मुर्विनाशमसुरा दन्ताग्राभिहतास्तथा॥१५॥

Asina Nihatah Kechit Kechit Khatvanga-Taditah | Jagmur Vinasham Asura Dantagrabhihatas Tatha || 15 ||

Meaning: "Some asuras perished by the sword, some by blows of the skull-topped staff, and others by the points of her teeth."

Verse 16

क्षणेन तद् बलं सर्वमसुराणां निपातितम्। दृष्ट्वा चण्डोऽभिदुद्राव तां कालीमतिभीषणाम्॥१६॥

Kshanena Tad Balam Sarvam Asuranam Nipatitam | Drishtva Chando'bhidudrava Tam Kalim Atibhishanam || 16 ||

Meaning: "In a moment the whole army of the asuras was laid low. Seeing it, Chanda rushed at that most terrible Kali."

Verse 17

शरवर्षैर्महाभीमैर्भीमाक्षीं तां महासुरः। छादयामास चक्रैश्च मुण्डः क्षिप्तैः सहस्रशः॥१७॥

Shara-Varshair Mahabhimair Bhimakshim Tam Mahasurah | Chhadayamasa Chakraishcha Mundah Kshiptaih Sahasrashah || 17 ||

Meaning: "The great asura covered the fierce-eyed Goddess with dreadful showers of arrows, and Munda hurled discuses at her by the thousands."

Verse 18

तानि चक्राण्यनेकानि विशमानानि तन्मुखम्। बभुर्यथार्कबिम्बानि सुबहूनि घनोदरम्॥१८॥

Tani Chakrany Anekani Vishamanani Tanmukham | Babhur Yatharka-Bimbani Subahuni Ghanodaram || 18 ||

Meaning: "Those many discuses, entering her mouth, looked like countless suns passing into the belly of a dark cloud."

Verse 19

ततो जहासातिरुषा भीमं भैरवनादिनी। कालीकरालवक्त्रान्तर्दुर्दर्शदशनोज्ज्वला॥१९॥

Tato Jahasatirusha Bhimam Bhairava-Nadini | Kali-Karala-Vaktrantar-Durdarsha-Dashanojjvala || 19 ||

Meaning: "Then Kali, of the terrible roar, laughed a dreadful laugh in great fury – her teeth gleaming in her gaping mouth, horrible to look upon."

Verse 20

उत्थाय च महासिंहं देवी चण्डमधावत। गृहीत्वा चास्य केशेषु शिरस्तेनासिनाच्छिनत्॥२०॥

Utthaya Cha Mahasimham Devi Chandam Adhavata | Grihitva Chasya Kesheshu Shiras Tenasinach Chhinat || 20 ||

Meaning: "The Goddess rose up on her great lion and rushed at Chanda; she seized him by the hair and struck off his head with her sword."

Verse 21

अथ मुण्डोऽभ्यधावत्तां दृष्ट्वा चण्डं निपातितम्। तमप्यपातयद्भूमौ सा खड्गाभिहतं रुषा॥२१॥

Atha Mundo'bhyadhavat Tam Drishtva Chandam Nipatitam | Tam Apy Apatayad Bhumau Sa Khadgabhihatam Rusha || 21 ||

Meaning: "Seeing Chanda fallen, Munda rushed at her; in her fury she struck him with her sword and brought him down to the ground as well."

Verse 22

हतशेषं ततः सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा चण्डं निपातितम्। मुण्डं च सुमहावीर्यं दिशो भेजे भयातुरम्॥२२॥

Hatashesham Tatah Sainyam Drishtva Chandam Nipatitam | Mundam Cha Sumahaviryam Disho Bheje Bhayaturam || 22 ||

Meaning: "Seeing Chanda and the mighty Munda slain, what was left of the army fled in terror in every direction."

Verse 23

शिरश्चण्डस्य काली च गृहीत्वा मुण्डमेव च। प्राह प्रचण्डाट्टहासमिश्रमभ्येत्य चण्डिकाम्॥२३॥

Shirash Chandasya Kali Cha Grihitva Mundameva Cha | Praha Prachandattahasa-Mishram Abhyetya Chandikam || 23 ||

Meaning: "Kali took the heads of Chanda and Munda, went up to Chandika, and spoke to her with a great burst of laughter:"

Verse 24

मया तवात्रोपहृतौ चण्डमुण्डौ महापशू। युद्धयज्ञे स्वयं शुम्भं निशुम्भं च हनिष्यसि॥२४॥

Maya Tavatropahritau Chandamundau Mahapashu | Yuddhayajne Svayam Shumbham Nishumbham Cha Hanishyasi || 24 ||

Meaning: "'Here, in this sacrifice of battle, I have brought you Chanda and Munda as two great sacrificial beasts. Shumbha and Nishumbha you shall slay yourself.'"

Verse 25 – Rishir Uvacha

ऋषिरुवाच॥२५॥

Rishir Uvacha || 25 ||

Meaning: The sage said:

Verse 26

तावानीतौ ततो दृष्ट्वा चण्डमुण्डौ महासुरौ। उवाच कालीं कल्याणी ललितं चण्डिका वचः॥२६॥

Tavanitau Tato Drishtva Chandamundau Mahasurau | Uvacha Kalim Kalyani Lalitam Chandika Vachah || 26 ||

Meaning: "Seeing the great asuras Chanda and Munda brought before her, the auspicious Chandika spoke these gracious words to Kali:"

Verse 27

यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च गृहीत्वा त्वमुपागता। चामुण्डेति ततो लोके ख्याता देवि भविष्यसि॥ॐ॥२७॥

Yasmach Chandam Cha Mundam Cha Grihitva Tvamupagata | Chamundeti Tato Loke Khyata Devi Bhavishyasi || Om || 27 ||

Meaning: "'Because you came to me with Chanda and Munda in your hands, you shall be known in the world, O Goddess, as Chamunda.'" Om.

Chapter Colophon

॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये चण्डमुण्डवधो नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः॥७॥

|| Iti Shri-Markandeya-Purane Savarnike Manvantare Devimahatmye Chanda-Munda-Vadho Nama Saptamo'dhyayah || 7 ||

Meaning: Thus ends the seventh chapter, named "The Slaying of Chanda and Munda", of the Devi Mahatmya in the account of the Savarnika manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.

उवाच २, श्लोकाः २५, एवम् २७, एवमादितः॥४३९॥

Uvacha 2, Shlokah 25, Evam 27, Evamaditah || 439 ||

Meaning: Two uvacha lines and 25 full verses – 27 textual units in this chapter, and 439 from the beginning of the text.

Significance of Durga Saptashati Chapter 7

Durga Saptashati Chapter 7 is the chapter of Kali. In the whole Devi Mahatmya this is where she first appears, and the text describes her birth in four verses of unforgettable detail: she springs from the Goddess's own forehead, from the frown of her anger, fully armed and already terrible.

The chapter answers a question the earlier chapters raised. The Goddess of Chapters 2 to 5 is beautiful, gently smiling, radiant as gold; Shumbha wants her for exactly that reason. Chapter 7 shows what that beauty becomes when it is seized by force. Ambika's face darkens, and the Goddess who appears is gaunt, black, gaping, garlanded with heads – and she does not fight the army so much as eat it. The gentle and the terrible are one Goddess; the demons meet the face they have provoked.

The chapter ends with a naming. Kali offers Chanda and Munda to Chandika as "sacrificial beasts" in the "sacrifice of battle", and Chandika replies with the name Chamunda. The Chamunda worshipped in temples across India – the Goddess of the cremation ground, one of the seven Matrikas – takes her name from this verse.

Main Teachings of Chapter 7

• Kali is the Goddess's own anger given form: she is born from Ambika's forehead, not sent from elsewhere (Verses 5–6).
• The gentle Goddess and the terrible Goddess are one: the smiling Goddess on the golden peak and the gaunt, black Kali are the same power (Verses 3 and 6–8).
• Nothing hurled at the Goddess reaches her: discuses and missiles vanish into Kali's mouth like suns into a cloud (Verses 13 and 18).
• Battle is a sacrifice: Kali presents the slain demons as offerings in the "yajna of war" (Verse 24).
• Names come from deeds: Chamunda is named for what she did (Verse 27), as Mahishasura-Mardini and Kaushiki were before her.

The Birth of Kali

Verses 5 to 8 describe Kali as she springs from the Goddess's forehead.

Feature	Verse
Born from Ambika's forehead, furrowed with a frown, as her face turns black as kohl	5–6
Terrible of face; sword and noose in her hands	6
A strange skull-topped staff (khatvanga)	7
A garland of human heads	7
Clothed in a leopard skin	7
A gaunt, fleshless body, dreadful to see	7
A gaping mouth and a lolling tongue	8
Sunken red eyes	8
A roar that fills every direction	8

How Kali Became Chamunda

Verse 27 gives the origin of one of the Goddess's best-known names:

यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च गृहीत्वा त्वमुपागता। चामुण्डेति ततो लोके ख्याता देवि भविष्यसि॥

"Because you came to me with Chanda and Munda in your hands, you shall be known in the world as Chamunda."

The name joins the two demons' names – Chanda and Munda – into one. Kali's own words in Verse 24 give the deed its meaning: the battle is a yajna, a sacrifice, and the two demons are the great beasts offered in it. The Navarna mantra of the Durga Saptashati, "Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche", invokes the Goddess by this very name.

Why Is Chapter 7 Called Chanda-Munda Vadha?

The seventh chapter is traditionally known as Chanda-Munda Vadha – "the slaying (vadha) of Chanda and Munda" – after the two great asuras who are beheaded in it. They are the same Chanda and Munda who, in Chapter 5, first saw the Goddess on the Himalaya and told Shumbha of her beauty.

Traditional Recitation of Chapter 7

Chapter 7 belongs to the Uttama Charitra of the Devi Mahatmya, which runs from Chapter 5 to Chapter 13 under Mahasaraswati. It has no separate Viniyoga; the Viniyoga of the Uttama Charitra is recited at the start of Chapter 5, and Chapter 7 opens with its own Dhyana of Matangi, given above.

Schedule	When Chapter 7 is read	Context
3-day Path (by Charitra)	Day 3, with Chapters 5–6 and 8–13	Day 1: Chapter 1 · Day 2: Chapters 2–4
7-day Path	Day 4, with Chapters 5, 6 and 8	Day 1: 1 · Day 2: 2–3 · Day 3: 4 · Day 5: 9–10 · Day 6: 11 · Day 7: 12–13
9-day Navratri Path	Day 4, on its own	Day 1: 1 · Day 2: 2–4 · Day 3: 5–6 · Day 5: 8 · Day 6: 9–10 · Day 7: 11 · Day 8: 12 · Day 9: 13

The chapter is read through to its colophon in one sitting; a chapter is never left unfinished. The exact procedure varies by tradition, lineage and method, and devotees should follow the method prescribed by their Guru or family tradition.

Traditional Spiritual Significance

In the chapter-wise tradition of the Path, the seventh chapter is read for the fulfilment of a particular wish – a special prayer brought to the Goddess. Devotees traditionally approach it for:

• Devotion towards Goddess Mahasaraswati, the presiding deity of the Uttama Charitra, and towards Kali as Chamunda
• The fulfilment of a specific heartfelt wish
• Courage before what is fierce and frightening, by reflecting on Kali as the Goddess's own form
• Protection from hostile forces, after the pattern of the army devoured by Kali
• Remembrance of the Goddess in the form of the chapter's Dhyana, Matangi

These are traditional devotional associations and should not be understood as guaranteed worldly or medical outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Durga Saptashati Chapter 7 called?

Durga Saptashati Chapter 7 is called Saptama Adhyaya and is traditionally known as Chanda-Munda Vadha, "The Slaying of Chanda and Munda".

What happens in Chapter 7 of Durga Saptashati?

Chanda and Munda march on the Goddess with a four-fold army. As they close in, Kali springs from the Goddess's angry forehead, devours the army, catches the demons' weapons in her mouth, beheads Chanda, cuts down Munda, and brings their heads to Chandika – who names her Chamunda.

Who is the main Goddess in Durga Saptashati Chapter 7?

The presiding deity of the Uttama Charitra is Mahasaraswati, and the Dhyana at the head of the chapter meditates on her as Matangi. In the verses the Goddess is Ambika and Chandika, and the chapter's action belongs to Kali, who is born from her.

How was Kali born?

From the Goddess's forehead. When the asuras moved to seize her, Ambika's face turned black with anger, and from her frowning brow Kali sprang forth – sword and noose in hand, gaunt and terrible, with a garland of heads and a leopard skin (Verses 5–8).

Why is Kali called Chamunda?

Because she slew Chanda and Munda and brought their heads to Chandika. Chandika then declared that she would be known in the world as Chamunda – the name made from the two demons' names (Verse 27).

Are these the same Chanda and Munda who appeared in Chapter 5?

Yes. In Chapter 5 they were Shumbha's servants who saw the Goddess on the Himalaya and urged him to take her; in Chapter 6 Shumbha ordered them to bring her by force; here they lead the army and are slain.

How many verses are there in Durga Saptashati Chapter 7?

The traditional count gives 27 textual units: 2 uvacha lines and 25 full verses. Together with Chapters 1 to 6 this makes 439 units from the beginning of the text.

Can Chapter 7 be recited on its own?

Yes. In the nine-day Navratri schedule it is read by itself on the fourth day. Its own Dhyana of Matangi is recited first; its Viniyoga is that of the Uttama Charitra, recited at Chapter 5; and the preliminaries of the Path Vidhi are performed before it as for the whole Path.

Continue Reading Durga Saptashati

After Chapter 7, Shumbha sends his whole host – and the demon Raktabija, from whose every drop of blood a new demon springs.

Next: Durga Saptashati Chapter 8 – The Slaying of Raktabija

Previous: Durga Saptashati Chapter 6 – Dhumralochana-Vadha

• Durga Saptashati Chapter 1 – Madhu-Kaitabha Vadha
• Durga Saptashati Chapter 2 – Mahishasura-Sainya-Vadha
• Durga Saptashati Chapter 3 – Mahishasura-Vadha
• Durga Saptashati Chapter 4 – Shakradi Stuti
• Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 – Devi-Duta Samvada
• Durga Saptashati Path Vidhi
• Devi Kavacham · Argala Stotram · Keelakam Stotram
• Vedoktam Ratri Suktam · Tantroktam Ratri Suktam
• Shri Devi Atharvashirsham · Navarna Vidhi · Saptashati Nyasa

For the complete Durga Saptashati, readers can continue through all 13 chapters of the Devi Mahatmya.